Introduction to Jules Massenet’s Melodies with Orchestra
The Palazzetto Bru Zane has completed its decade-long project to enhance and make Jules Massenet’s repertoire known to the general public. The final installment of this endeavor is the CD “Songs with Orchestra II,” released on January 30th. This CD, published by the record label of the Institute of French Romantic Music based in Venice, features twenty-two world-first recordings performed by the Orchestra de l’Opéra Normandie Rouen, conducted by Pierre Dumoussaud, with singers Hélène Guilmette, Marie-Andrée Bouchard-Lesieur, Julien Henric, and Thomas Dolié.
Background and Context
The journey to uncovering Massenet’s melodies with orchestra began during a festival dedicated to Camille Saint-Saëns in 2017. The editorial team of the Center de musique romantique française discovered around thirty pieces by Jules Massenet, shedding new light on the mélodie with orchestra genre. This genre, previously limited to a few works by Duparc and Berlioz, took on a new face. The subsequent years saw the progressive recovery of dozens of works by various composers, including Gounod, Hahn, Dubois, and others. Massenet, too, had a significant contribution to this genre, with over fifty of his works awaiting publication and recording.
The Recording and Its Significance
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 provided an opportunity to record a first volume of Massenet’s melodies, which was well-received. This encouraged the continuation of the project, culminating in the second and final volume, “Songs with Orchestra II.” The recording includes a selection of isolated songs, some of which were discovered at the last minute or just weeks before the project’s realization. The CD is available for download and streaming on digital platforms, accompanied by a 96-page downloadable online booklet featuring critical essays and song lyrics.
Conclusion and References
The completion of Palazzetto Bru Zane’s project to publish Jules Massenet’s melodies with orchestra marks a significant milestone in making the composer’s repertoire more accessible to the public. For more information on this project and to explore the world of French Romantic music, visit the Institute of French Romantic Music’s website or Here for the original article.